Investor activity soars

First time buyer and investor demand for mortgages surged to an all time record high in November, according to AFG.

Property investors accounted for almost two out of every five mortgages sold in November – an all time record for the AFG Mortgage Index, which goes back six years.

The overall number of mortgages processed last month also surged, by 18.4 per cent.

Investors were especially active in New South Wales (44.6 per cent) and Victoria (39.8 per cent).

AFG general manager of sales and operations Mark Hewitt said while November is seasonally a strong month for mortgages, the rate cut certainly stimulated demand.

"We're experiencing the paradox that weaker global economic conditions and lower rates, is good news for Australian property buyers – at least for now. It's significant that investors and first home buyers are leading the action," he said.

"Many had been fearful that we were locked into a scenario of constant rate hikes. The November rate cut proved to be a real a turning point and the outlook is very different now."

Data from AFG found over $2.9 billion of mortgages were processed in November – the highest such figure since March 2009.

Growth was particularly strong in Victoria, where mortgages processed leaped 26.7 per cent, and in Queensland with 20.8 per cent growth.